Starr-Camargo Bridge Expansion Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. CUELLAR. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from North Carolina for yielding. I thank her staff also for the hard work and long hours they have been putting in. I thank also my good friend from American Samoa and her staff for getting this bill to the floor.

This bill allows the Starr-Camargo Bridge, a privately-owned toll bridge between Texas and Mexico, to expand and become multimodal. This bridge's previous authorization for construction expired, so we are coming back for an extension to make sure that we pursue the planned expansion project and also add a rail bridge addition.

The planned expansion will ease congestion, reduce truck idling at the port of entry, and alleviate the supply chain issues as the gentlewoman from North Carolina just mentioned a few minutes ago.

This expansion will be paid by tolls, so no cost to the taxpayers. This bridge will serve as the vital trade link between the United States and Mexico.

Keep in mind that the trade between the U.S. and Mexico has been tremendous. In fact, just last year, the trade between the U.S. and Mexico, our number one trading partner, reached $798.9 billion. I say that in the next 4 or 5 years, the trade between the U.S. and Mexico will increase to a trillion dollars of trade.

If you look at it right now, every minute you have $1.4 million of trade between the U.S. and Mexico.

What does that mean? That means jobs, not only for the ranchers, not only for industries, not only on this side, but also on the Mexican side so people will stay over there and work over there on the other side.

This trade is important for farmers, for ranchers, for manufacturers, and producers. This bridge is not only important to south Texas, my district, but it is also important for the whole Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I thank not only my good friend from American Samoa and her staff, but also my good friend the gentlewoman from North Carolina and her staff, for their work.

Mr. Speaker, I also thank Senator John Cornyn for his leadership and Senator Cruz for getting this bill on the floor. I thank Chairman McCaul, Ranking Member Meeks, and my good friend from San Antonio, Congressman Castro, for working to get this bill on the floor. I look forward to getting the President to sign this bill so we can continue creating jobs on both sides of the Rio Grande.

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